On this World Radio Day, the Association of European Radios (AER), representing more than 4500 commercially funded radios from all across Europe, would like to recall that radio is a great tool to connect people, as it is everywhere, free, trustable and you just need to press a button to start taking part in a conversation.

This year, AER would like to highlight a project launched in Finland called the “Silent Ones”. Stefan Möller, AER President introduces this campaign: “The Silent Ones is a campaign and a popular movement in which lonely people get a voice. The aim is to reduce the amount of loneliness in Finland. The Silent Ones is a reminder that commercial radio has social significance. We transmit the message that commercial radio, as an active player, need not simply wring its hands: it can do something about the matter.” More information on this campaign here: www.hiljaiset.fi

Key connecting figures of radio:
– 80% of the EU population listens to radio for at least 2 to 3 hours a day – and mostly to local or regional programmes, as shown by national audience measurement
– Radio is Free-To-Air and Simple-To-Use
– During manmade or natural disasters, radio is the first – and possibly the only remaining – tool to inform the public
– Radio is the most trusted medium (Standard Eurobarometer Survey of Autumn 2013 (EB80))